Etihad cargo increases freighter services to Africa

Etihad Cargo, the freight business of United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier Etihad Airways, has increased its freighter services to Africa with the launch of a cargo only service from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Maya Maya Airport, Brazzaville (BZV), in the Republic of Congo.

Operating twice
weekly using a Boeing 777F freighter
aircraft, the new service will fly from Abu Dhabi to Brazzaville via
Lagos airport (LOS) in Nigeria. The freighter has a
capacity of 100 metric tonnes and will transports tools, machinery, general cargo, electronics and project equipment.

Brazzaville is the Republic of
Congo’s capital and largest city, and a key political, economic and
transportation hub in Central Africa.

Kevin Knight, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at
Etihad Airways, said: “We are pleased to add the Republic of Congo to our
growing network of cargo destinations. Our new freighter service will allow us
to capitalise on trade between the Republic and the UAE, and better connect Africa
with markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia”

Etihad Cargo flies directly
from Abu Dhabi to eight destinations in Africa, and this is extended to over 30
destinations across the continent through codeshare partnerships with Royal Air
Maroc, Kenya Airways, South African Airways and Air Seychelles.

Etihad Cargo
has consistently outperformed the global market during the last year with 17
per cent growth in freight tonne kilometres in 2014, over four times the industry average.
Etihad Cargo is one of the largest cargo operators in the world and is
continuing to forecast significant growth during 2015, driven by key
initiatives to expand its capacity and scope, and to leverage equity and other
partnerships.

Partnerships with other freighter operators, including Atlas
Air and Avianca provide strong support to the main operation, and the division
is continuing to explore opportunities for co-operation with like-minded cargo
operators.

The airline currently
operates to 11 freighter-only destinations that include Bogotá, Chittagong, Djibouti,
Dubai World Central, Eldoret, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Houston,
Kabul and Sharjah, with Brazzaville the latest addition.